Irving, Texas-based Christus Health and New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System signed a letter of intent to create a nonprofit a joint venture.
The joint venture aims to build upon the organizations' two-year relationship and expand access to an array of services and specialties, including maternal fetal medicine and oncology.
Under the agreement, the joint venture will maintain responsibility for all future healthcare facilities operated by either of the two health systems in the Lake Charles, La., region.
Upon closing, Ochsner will assume management responsibilities for clinics and physicians belonging to the Christus Physician Group and Lake Area Medical Group. Officials will also create a joint board of directors to oversee the integrated facilities in Lake Charles.
Christus will become the majority owner and manager of the nonprofit joint venture once the transaction is finalized, which officials expect to occur in fall 2017. Once complete, officials will also reveal additional details about the structure of the partnership and the name of the entity.
The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.